[SMM Weekly Review] Weekly Market Trends of Lithium Ore from May 26 to May 29

This week, lithium ore prices continued to decline WoW, primarily due to the upward transmission of pressure from the oversold lithium carbonate market to lithium ore prices. Since late May, amidst increasingly lower downstream bargaining power, mines have adopted a wait-and-see attitude amid their own cost support, with a relatively mediocre willingness to sell. Some traders, facing inventory pressure and capital turnover pressure, have shown a stronger willingness to sell. On the buyer side, the accelerated decline in lithium carbonate prices has led to a continuous reduction in the ore prices they can accept, resulting in a relatively mediocre purchase willingness for lithium ore at relatively high prices. Coupled with the occasional emergence of new low-priced lithium ore transactions recently, market prices have continued to decline.

On the lepidolite front, the continuous decline in lithium chemical prices has led to a sustained decrease in production enthusiasm among small and medium-sized lithium chemical plants. Some lithium chemical plants can only maintain a low operating rate, and current lithium ore inventory levels remain low. In terms of procurement, the acceptable high-grade lepidolite concentrate is priced below 1,500 yuan/mt. On the supply side, large suppliers currently have no willingness to auction and release shipments. Small and medium-sized traders, due to low quotes from lithium chemical plants, have weak transaction willingness, resulting in a relatively mediocre overall market.